Church Street Care Home

Updated 7 February 2019

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This was a comprehensive inspection. The inspection took place on 11 January 2019 and was unannounced.

The inspection team consisted of one inspector. Before the inspection, we reviewed information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send to us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also reviewed other information we held about the home including notifications they had sent us. These are events that happen in the service that the provider is required to tell us about. We considered the last inspection report and information that had been sent to us by other agencies.

During the inspection, we spoke with two people who used the service and two relatives, to obtain their views about the service they or their family member received. We spoke with the registered manager, the assistant manager and three care staff. We also spoke with a visiting community healthcare professional.

We observed staff providing support to people in the communal areas of the service. This was so we could understand people's experiences. By observing the care received, we could determine whether or not they were comfortable with the support they were provided with.

We reviewed a range of records about people's care and how the service was managed. This included looking at two people's care records and associated documents. We reviewed records of meetings, staff rotas and staff training records. We also reviewed the quality assurance audits the management team had completed.

Updated 7 February 2019

Church Street is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Church Street Care Home is in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire and is registered for eight places. It provides care for people with a learning disability and/or autism. There were six people living there at the time of our inspection. Accommodation is provided on two floors and there is access to a small outside space. The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At our last inspection in August 2016, we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

Processes were in place to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm. Staff completed risk assessments and reviewed them regularly to ensure risks to people’s health and safety were identified and managed, while avoiding unnecessary restrictions to people’s freedom. Incidents and accidents were reported, investigated and action was taken to minimise the risk of similar incidents occurring in the future.

Staffing levels were planned to ensure the required care and support could be provided and staff were organised and deployed effectively. Medicines were managed and administered safely.

The premises and environment were well maintained and the required safety checks were completed. Infection prevention and control was effectively managed.

People’s care and support needs were assessed and care was effective; resulting in positive outcomes for people. Staff had good access to training and development, supervision and appraisal. Staff worked well with other professionals to ensure people had access to healthcare support as needed.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Staff gained people’s consent to care and support and when people lacked capacity to make a decision, the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) were followed.

People participated in a range of activities according to their individual choices and preferences within the home and in the community. They were encouraged to develop independent living skills and live life to the full. Staff understood the importance of this for people and provided the structured support people required. This enabled people to achieve positive outcomes and promoted a good quality of life.

Relatives praised staff for their kind and caring approach. Although people were unable to fully express themselves verbally, they showed by their actions they were relaxed and happy with staff. People were treated with dignity and respect by staff, who provided positive support and encouragement.

Staff provided person centred care and had an in-depth knowledge of the people they cared for. They engaged in a wide range of activities based on their personal choices. People were treated equally, without discrimination and information was presented to them in a way they could understand.

The service continued to be well led. The registered manager demonstrated excellent leadership skills and was committed to continuous quality improvement. The service was person centred and focused on providing as many opportunities for people as possible. People were involved in the development of the service. Quality audits were undertaken to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided.